Impossible To Walk Away

Recently, a friend asked me for some ideas on how to get the word out about a worthy cause, my response was instinctively pretty generic – start a website, develop a blog and actively update it, then promote it to others through Facebook and Twitter.

But then I started reading Rachel’s story.

Not yet 25 years old, Rachel is fighting cancer for the third time. She is going to need a bone marrow transplant which is enough to financially devastate anyone, let alone a young family.

It’s easy not to look any further than that, to convince ourselves that it isn’t possible to help everyone, and simply move on. But I just couldn’t.

Maybe it was seeing this quote on the site…

“Nobody can help everyone, but everyone can help somebody.”

Or, maybe it was looking into the eyes of her beautiful young daughter Lexi in a family photo…

It may have been the letter she wrote to her daughter on her blog that I read with tears streaming down my face….

“One day, when you are all grown up, and you are a mom of your own, this may make more sense to you. I wish I could find words to tell you how much you mean to me. I never knew until I held you for the first time what true love was. You are the reason why I breathe everyday. I could not imagine my life without you in it.”

It could have even been Rachel’s personal strength and humor that I followed on her Facebook page…

“I find it completely unfair that in one day I have to clean the hair off of my pillow that is falling out of my head, and pluck my over grown eye brows. Shouldn’t one benefit of taking chemo be that I just have no hair maintenance at all? Sheesh … “

I have no clue what made it impossible for me to walk away from this family, but I am hoping that you find it impossible also.

What can you do?

First, before ya do anything else, please take a moment to send Rachel a few words of encouragement. While you are there, maybe you will consider donating a few bucks to help this family with the expenses they are incurring during this challenging time in their lives.

Still want to do more?

Wonderful! Why don’t you do everything that you can to spread the word! If you have a blog, create a post sharing Rachel’s story.

If you are into social networking sites perhaps you could share a link to www.got-marrow.org and ask everyone you know to do the same.

Together, we truly can make a difference.

Thank you for being a part of my life, and especially for allowing me to be a part of yours . . .

Edit 12/07/10Rest in peace in the arms of an angel my beautiful friend…
August 4, 1986 – December 7, 2010

(7) Comments

Words can’t explain what I feel today. God Bless you and I am going to go through the steps and see if I am an acceptable donor. You and your folks mean a lot to me, and Rob has been a blessing. Together we can beat this. I promise.
D

I was surprised how easy it was to register with the Bone Marrow people. I hope I can make a difference before I get too old. I did it last year after reading a similar story. I don’t have a job right now but I can sure pray for Rachel and her family and I can help spread her story.
Michelle in NV

I wanted to say thank you for everything you are doing to help spread the word about Rachel. I know what you mean about being impossible to walk away. Rachel is the kind of girl that you are drawn to and somehow you know it would be a mistake to not make her a part of your life if possible. I was willing to go my entire life being single if my perfect girl never came around (much to the worry of my mother!) When I started dating Rachel, it didn’t take me long to figure out I wanted to be her husband. She was and is my perfect girl. It makes me so happy to know that so many people are fighting to help us out emotionally and financially. You and others have touched her heart so much it makes me smile. It has renewed our belief in the kindness of others. Thank you.